Moralising Poverty

The ‘Undeserving’ Poor in the Public Gaze

Bibliographic Data

ID19922792
AuthorsSerena Romano (0000-0002-4437-0578, Birkbeck, University of London, corresponding author)
Year2017
Publication date2017-07-14
Open AccessNo
TypeBOOK
VenueMoralising Poverty (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.4324/9781315674667
OpenAlexW4244650288
Open LibraryOL51786847M
ISBN9781315674667
LanguageEN
Citations received10

Do we judge the poor? Do we fear them? Do we have a moral obligation to help those in need? The moral and social grounds of solidarity and deservedness in relation to aid for poor people are rarely steady. This is particularly true under contemporary austerity reforms, where current debates question exactly who is most ‘deserving’ of protection in times of crisis. These arguments have accompanied a rise in the production of negative and punitive sentiments towards the poor. This book breaks new ground in the discussion of the moral dimension of poverty and its implications for the treatment of the poor in mature welfare states, drawing upon the diverse political, social and symbolic constructions of deservedness and otherness. It takes a new look at the issue of poverty from the perspective of public policy, media and public opinion. It also examines, in a topical manner, the various ways in which certain factions contribute to the production of stereotyped representations of poverty and to the construction of boundaries between ‘insiders’ and ‘outsiders’ in our society. Case studies from the UK and Italy are used to examine these issues, and to understand the impact that a moralising of poverty has on the everyday experiences of the poor. This is valuable reading for students and researchers interested in contemporary social work, social policy and welfare systems

Political science · Poverty · Law · Religion, Society, and Development · Business & Economics · Economic conditions · Economic policy · Economics · État providence · Macroeconomics · Moral and ethical aspects · Pauvreté · Politique sociale · Public policy · Social Classes & Economic Disparity · Social policy · Social Science · Welfare state